The Toyota Aqua (Japanese:, Hepburn: Toyota Akua) (“aqua” is Latin for water) is a complete hybrid gasoline-electric subcompact/superminihatchback produced and sold by Toyota. The “c” stands for “city”[5] in the Toyota Prius c’s name. The Prius c, the third member of the Prius family, combines a hybrid drivetrain with the amenities of a Yaris-sized car. According to test cycles conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Prius c is less expensive than the standard Prius and has better fuel economy in city driving. [6] [7] When plug-in electric vehicles are taken into account, the Prius c is considered to be the 2012 most fuel-efficient compact car by the EPA. [8] [9]
The Aqua’s production model was introduced at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2012, the production Prius c made its U.S. debut. [10] The Aqua, which costs 1.69 million yen (about $21,700), was introduced in Japan in December 2011. [11] Sales started in January 2012 in a number of Asian markets. [12] [13] In March 2012, the Prius c was made available in the United States and Canada. [14] [15] Sales started in April 2012 in Australia and New Zealand. [16] [17]
In Japan, the Aqua is regarded as the most successful nameplate debut in the previous 20 years.
[18] With 1,380,100 units sold globally as of January 2017[update], the Aqua/Prius c is Toyota’s second-most popular hybrid behind the standard Prius. With 1,154,500 units sold as of January 2017, Japan led the market. [19] For three years running, from 2013 to 2015, the Aqua was the best-selling new vehicle in Japan. [20] [21] [22]
At the conclusion of the 2019 model year, the Prius C was withdrawn from sale in North America.
[23] Early in 2020, it was also abandoned in Australia. [4]
In This Article...
What distinguishes the Toyota Prius from the Prius C?
The 2019 Toyota Prius c has a starting price of about $21,530, which is higher for a subcompact car but below average for a hybrid. You must pay $1,425 to move from the entry-level L trim to the top-of-the-line LE trim.
The Toyota Prius is a tiny automobile that is essentially a bigger Prius c with additional space for both people and baggage. Compared to the Prius c, the Prius offers a more comfortable ride, quicker acceleration, and superior fuel efficiency. The Prius c, meanwhile, is less expensive to purchase and easier to maneuver in confined locations. The larger Prius is more expensive initially, but it’s a purchase that’s worthwhile.
The 2019 Prius c has an overall rating of four out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In tests for frontal, side, and rollover collision safety, the Prius c received four stars overall.
The Toyota Safety Sense package, which includes a rearview camera, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, frontal collision warning, automated emergency braking, and pedestrian recognition, is included as standard equipment on the Prius c.
The Prius C is it still available?
Since the Prius c has been discontinued, 2019 is the final model year. You’ll still get excellent servicing from your local Toyota Service Center whether you already own a Prius c or not. If you’re looking for a new one, have a look at our expanding hybrid selection to find your ideal fit. Only a handful hybrids, including Prius, Corolla Hybrid, and Prius Prime, share our dedication to offering efficiency and utility with each drive. Continue reading to discover more about these cars’ features and discover which Toyota is best for you.
What kind of vehicle is the Prius C?
A: The Toyota Prius C is a gasoline-hybrid vehicle that is propelled by a combination of a combustion engine and an electric motor, not a plug-in hybrid. The Prius c uses kinetic energy from regenerative braking to periodically recharge its on-board battery rather than being plugged in to do so.
What caused Toyota to halt Prius production?
Why would Toyota discontinue the Prius given its enormous success? Why would the car manufacturer stop making it? One is that the Prius is selling a lot less than it did at its height. Compared to 236,655 units sold in 2012, Toyota only sold 43,525 Prius models in 2020.
The Prius is currently overshadowed by other hybrid vehicles, notably those from the Toyota brand. With the introduction of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, speculation about the Prius being discontinued became even stronger. The Corolla Hybrid, another compact hybrid vehicle offered by Toyota, may render the Prius obsolete.
Electric vehicles are another factor that might make the Prius irreverent. Today’s consumers have a lot more environmentally friendly options with EVs, so hybrids like the Prius might not be as desirable. Toyota has waited a while to produce an electric car, but the carmaker just said that it will make a significant push for electric cars in the future, starting with the introduction of the Toyota bZ4X crossover EV in 2022.
The Prius C uses little gas.
With a combined fuel consumption rating of 3.7 L/100 km, the Prius c offers the lowest fuel consumption rating of any vehicle without a plug. It is designed to function as an urban-friendly vehicle with an engaging driving experience, hatchback utility, and the letter “c” representing “city” in the name.
Which model of Toyota Prius is the best?
The Toyota Prius’s Best and Worst Years, in brief, are as follows: The Toyota Prius’s greatest and worst model years are 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and the years 20162020, respectively. Before you buy your Toyota Prius, keep an eye out for these years, especially the troublesome ones.
A Prius C: Is it worth it?
Among hybrid vehicles, the 2018 Toyota Prius C is a little one. The vehicle has a hatchback, four doors, and front-wheel drive. For those looking to go green, the Prius c makes a terrific entry-level hybrid vehicle. The Prius is more affordable than the majority of other hybrid cars on the market. The Prius is a viable option if you’re searching for a dependable, cost-effective city car.
On this year’s Prius c model, not much has changed. Since the Prius underwent a significant makeover in 2016, no significant aesthetic changes were anticipated for the 2017 model. 2017 brought a few minor adjustments and new features. The 2018 Prius C is essentially the same as the 2017 model, with the exception that all variants now come standard with alloy wheels.
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How far can a Prius C travel?
A Toyota Prius owner may anticipate getting between 200,000 and 250,000 miles out of their vehicle with routine maintenance, with some owners exceeding the 300,000-mile milestone and still going strong. The Prius has a well-established history of dependable service for more than two decades as the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle.
How does the Prius C One drive?
If you’re looking for a Prius hybrid but want to spend a little less money, the Prius C is a cheaper, more compact option.
Although it rides rough, is noisy inside and out, and accelerates slowly, it feels more like a basic hybrid than a sophisticated one.
It achieves a very impressive 37 mpg in the city, but its overall 43 mpg is 1 mpg less than the larger 2010-2015 Prius.
The driving position and back seats are congested, the interior is stuffed with materials that look cheap, and there isn’t much room for cargo.
The C is at least a natural for driving in cities thanks to its small size and simple parking. For 2017, automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning were made commonplace.
How do Prius C cars function?
When you let off of the gas pedal or touch the brakes, the Toyota Prius’s regenerative braking system activates.
The gas engine and electric motor are turned off when the car slows down. It uses the kinetic energy of the wheels to charge the generator rather than powering the wheels. This energy is converted by the generator into electricity, which it then stores in the battery.
The amount of lost energy that can be converted back into usable energy for acceleration is about 70%.
Upon coming to a complete halt, the motor and engine turn off. Until you restart the car, the radio, lights, air conditioning, and display screens are all powered by the battery.
Which Prius uses solely gas?
The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime has a combined driving range of up to 640 miles with a full tank of gas and a full charge. In EV Mode, the plug-in hybrid vehicle also boasts a 25-mile electric-only range. As long as there is fuel in the gas tank, the Prius Prime will continue to operate in hybrid mode even after the battery has been exhausted. When in hybrid mode, the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime achieves a combined EPA-estimated rating of 54 mpg. The Prius Prime achieves up to 133 MPGe in EV Mode just using the battery pack. Less time spent at the gas station and more time spending what you love are the results of all these numbers.
Does owning a Prius make sense?
The Toyota Prius is a reliable vehicle, yes. It offers a spacious load hold and outperforms practically all other hybrid vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency. A long number of features and plenty of comfy seating are also present. Its poor driving qualities, though, include slow steering response and subpar acceleration.
Prius: Is it larger than Corolla?
Speaking of each vehicle’s inside, the Prius’ is undeniably a little more adaptable than the Corolla’s due to its hatchback configuration. With the seats up, the Prius has a cargo volume of 27.4 cubic feet, and when they are folded down, it has an enormous 50.7 cubic feet. Although the Corolla Hybrid only has 13.1 cubic feet of storage space, it will be adequate if all you need is a tiny trunk for groceries or perhaps a few carry-on bags.
However, I must point out that the Corolla Hybrid, which measures in at 34.8 cubic feet as opposed to the Prius’ 33.4 cubic feet, surprisingly offers a little more rear-seat legroom. It may not seem like much, but every inch counts when it comes to legroom.
How much does a Prius hybrid battery replacement cost?
The Prius battery is no exception to the rule that hybrid and electric car batteries are more expensive than gas-powered automobile batteries. A new Toyota Prius battery can run you anywhere from $2,200 to $4,100.
Remember that even a used Prius battery costs roughly $1,500 when calculating the cost. You’ll be looking at a substantially bigger bill once labor costs and additional charges from your mechanic are taken into account. To maintain the lowest pricing possible:
- Obtain price quotes from mechanics. Prius frequently need specialist work, but every mechanic will charge labor in their own way. A different store might have a better offer for you.
- Think about switching to a different model. A new Prius can run for years without any problems, but you will need to pay the difference in price between it and your old one.
- Comparative-shop for batteries. It’s unlikely that the first battery you come across will be the lowest choice.
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What drawbacks come with owning a Toyota Prius?
1. Riding Comfort
The 2018 Toyota Prius features a firm ride quality, which is perhaps its major flaw. The tires are undoubtedly made to provide decent mileage rather than to cushion every bump on the road. Even the Prius c hatchback is a little more pleasant than the standard Prius, which can be very bumpy when driving over even the slightest amount of bad road topography.
2. Slow Accumulation
The Prius is not particularly good at accelerating. Although the Prius can accelerate reasonably well compared to other cars in its class, it is designed for fuel efficiency rather than cruising at high speeds. You may need to think about purchasing a totally new vehicle if you want something with a little more oomph.
3. Subpar interior components
The Toyota Prius has this drawback with some of Toyota’s other contemporary models. The inside has the appearance of being made with inferior materials. The cloth upholstery and several of the knobs and buttons appear to be prone to wear and tear with time, even though nothing appears to be about to break at any second.
4. Loud Cabin While Highway Speeds
There is no mistaking it: this car is not silent! When trying to get the Toyota Prius to travel beyond 55 miles per hour on the highway, you will have to put up with a lot of road, wind, and engine noise in addition to its stiff ride quality. The engine frequently complains when the car is pressed to move fast, and the cabin appears to lack the necessary insulation to keep part of the outside noise out.
How it compares to the opposition:
With its 58 mpg fuel efficiency, which is unquestionably best-in-class for this year, the 2018 Hyundai Inoiq Hybrid is a top-tier rival for the Prius. The Ioniq, on the other hand, is less roomy and has a smaller plug-in range.
Despite having a lower fuel economy than previous models, the 2018 Honda Civic Hybrid performs well on highways and in cities. The Civic is quite roomy and has a ton of safety equipment.
Overall, the 2018 Toyota Prius is a roomy, very fuel-efficient vehicle. The Prius is still one of the top hybrid sales performers due to its focus on fuel efficiency, even if it will need to step it up in 2019 to compete with newer hybrid models from other automakers.
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